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Government Advised to Fight Malaria Beyond Distribution of Mosquito Nets
Government Advised to Fight Malaria Beyond Distribution of Mosquito Nets
By: Michael Mike
The fight against malaria in the country should not stop at distribution of mosquito nets, the Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) has advised government, stating that at stakeholders at all levels should implement other preventive measures against the disease.
Speaking at the commemoration of World Mosquito Day at Jahi II community in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chairman PECAN, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, Mr. Terungwa Abari, said the main purpose of the World Mosquito Day is to raise awareness about mosquito-borne diseases and their impact on global health in honour of Sir Ronald Ross’s discovery on August 20 in 1897 that anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria.
Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2022 report on the disease, Abari who is also the national vice chairman of PECAN, said malaria is a major public health concern in Nigeria, with an estimated 68 million cases and 194,000 deaths due to the disease in 2021.
He noted that: “Nigeria has the highest burden of malaria globally, accounting for nearly 27% of the global malaria burden. The risk of transmission exists throughout the country, all year round. However, the incidence of malaria is highest in the northern and north-eastern parts of the country,” he said.
He said beyond commemorating Sir Ronald Ross’ seminal discovery, the day provides another opportunity to review how far the fight against mosquito has gone in the country and enlighten more people, assist communities, save lives, and make a difference.
He said mosquitoes also cause dengue, West Nile virus, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya diseases.
He said: “According to the Atlanta based Center for Disease Control and Prevention, malaria alone claimed over 600,000 lives in 2022, a stark reminder of the challenges we face in eradicating this preventable disease.
“The theme for the world mosquito day 2024 is ‘accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world’. This year‘s theme stresses the need to address the gaps in accessing malaria prevention, detection and treatment.
“PECAN Abuja is, therefore, calling on all stakeholders from the Government, Health Organizations, Environmental Health Practitioners, International Donor Agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations, Media Practitioners, Civil Society Organisations, Community based Associations, Faith based organisations, to synergise their efforts in tackling the world’s deadliest killer – the mosquito, through multi-pronged approaches.
“We call on governments at all levels to step up deliberate efforts at controlling and minimising mosquitoes in our communities to the barest minimum. A lot of attention has been focused on diagnosis and treatment which is commendable. There has also been some progress in vaccine development. But more efforts need to be directed at the causative agent – the source of the whole malaise – the mosquito,” Abari added.
He stressed the need for continuous enlightenment and increased advocacy for sustainable practices that protect the environment while controlling mosquito populations is critical. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches, which combine cultural practices, biological control, habitat management, technological innovations and community participation, can be effective in reducing the scourge of the mosquito.
“Source site management has to be enhanced. That’s where we the professionals come in. Intensive source site management activities including larviciding, adulticiding and other professional interventions will go a long way in this battle against this tiny devastating devil -the mosquito,” he further said.
He highlighted the need to engage only licensed and certified professionals in this sector should be engaged in this fight, to ensure the safety of both human health and the environment. Engaging the services of quacks can lead to more dangers than expected gains.
During the commemoration, members of the association cleaned the dirty Jahi environment, fumigated some parts of the slum and distributed over 50 mosquito nets.
The Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) was established in 1989 as an Association of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) certified professional pest control providers. The objectives of the Association include maintaining ethical and professional standards in the pest control industry as well as safeguarding the health and wealth of the public and the environment.
Meanwhile, Suleyman Fatima, an Environmental Health Officer who represented the Registrar, Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, Dr. Yakubu Baba, said health education is critical in the fight against malaria, saying most locals in rural communities lack adequate knowledge on the dangers of mosquito as a vector.
The Chief Jahi 2 community, Salihu Adamu, in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, thanked PECAN for the intervention in their community, saying it will go a long way in helping the people fight the killer disease malaria.
Government Advised to Fight Malaria Beyond Distribution of Mosquito Nets
National News
VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence Anniversary
VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence Anniversary
By: Our Reporter
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has departed Abuja for Dakar, Senegal, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the country’s 65th Independence Day Anniversary celebrations.
Senegal celebrates its Independence Day on April 4 each year, commemorating its freedom from French colonial rule in 1960. The day is marked by national pride, with ceremonies, parades and cultural events.
The Vice President’s attendance at the annual event is in honour of an invitation extended to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, following the strong mutual relationship between Nigeria and Senegal.
The independence Day celebrations will be held at the Place de la Nation in Dakar, with President Faye playing host to Vice President Shettima and other distinguished guests from across Africa and beyond.
The Vice President is expected to return to Nigeria tomorrow after the one-day event.
VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence Anniversary
President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima
- Tasks Nigerians on constructive criticism of government actions, policies
By: Our Reporter
Wife of Nigeria’s Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, has scored the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu very high, saying the President is building a better Nigeria for Nigerians through his laudable economic policies, various empowerment initiatives and investments in key sectors of the economy.
And to help the President secure a better future for all Nigerians, the VP’s wife also encouraged the citizens not to relent in giving very useful advice to the government, urging them to be more constructive in their criticism of the administration instead of just attacking for political reasons.
Hajiya Nana Shettima spoke on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, during the annual Ramadan feast, which had in attendance women groups and students
Emphasizing the determination of the Tinubu administration to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come, she said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is baking a new cake for us that are alive today, and for the Nigerian children and grandchildren that are coming behind us. It is who he is ably supported by our lovely First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.”
Hajiya Nana Shettima noted that the President means well for the people of Borno State as well as Nigerians in all parts of the country, even as she urged the citizens to always pray for President Tinubu and members of his cabinet.
“I can tell you that he (the President) means well, not only for Borno people but for the entire nation. We should not forget him and his subordinates in our prayers,” she added.
She further commended the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her contributions towards actualizing the agenda of the administration, especially through the Renewed Hope Initiative which she said has impacted many lives, including women, children and people with disabilities.
Also speaking at the event, the Director General of Maryam Babangida Centre for Women Development, Abuja, Dr Asabe Bashir, admonished women and the people of Borno State to imbibe the teachings of the just concluded Ramadan.
She also sought the people’s support and prayers for President Tinubu, thanking the President for picking his deputy from Borno State.
She said, “I always reiterate the importance of prayer because without prayers we can do nothing in life. We have just come out of Ramadan; let us imbibe that culture and lessons we received during the 29-day fast. We need to continue with the spiritual reflection.
“We should thank God and President Bola Tinubu for remembering the people of Borno State again by bringing the seat of the Vice President, not just to the North-East region but to Borno State after Ambassador Babagana Kingibe was elected along with the late Chief MKO Abiola so many years ago.
“We must continue to pray for the administration of President Bola Tinubu because if it succeeds, we succeed,” Dr Bashir added.
On his part, the Speaker, Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Tijjani Abubakar, thanked President Tinubu for his support to Nigerian youths through various youth empowerment initiatives.
Also, Dr Martins Ekunke, who spoke on behalf the South-South, Yoruba and Igbo communities residing in Borno State, commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for galvanizing support for people living with HIV/AIDS through her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative.
Among those that attended the annual Sallah feast hosted by Hajiya Shettima, were the wife of the Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Hajiya Maryam Lawan; wife of the Deputy Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Hajiya Laure Musa-Askira; female Commissioners and political appointees.
Also in attendance were women groups, members of the Borno State chapter of the Nationals Association of Nigerian Students, as well as the leaders of South-South, Igbo and Yoruba communities residing in Borno State, among others.
President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima
UNILORIN Alumni Commences Tinubu on Appointment of Nandap, Omotowa, Aribisala
By: Michael Mike
The National Headquarters of University of Ilorin Alumni Association has lauded President Bola Tinubu for appointing three of its members into various leadership positions in the country.
Those appointed were Comptroller General of Immigration, Mrs Kemi Nandap,, whose tenure was elongated till December 2026, Non Executive Director of NNPC, representing North Central, Mr Babs Omotowa- and the Pioneer Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti, Prof. James A. Aribisala.
In a congratulatory message to the trio, the National President, Prof. AbdulRasaq Kilani, and the National Secretary, Dr Barakat Raji, said the Association received the news of the appointments with excitement.
The Alumni, who commended President Tinubu for selecting the best for their various positions, assured him that the three alumni would not disappoint him in attaining the goals set for them to achieve.
While felicitating with the appointed members on their well-deserved appointment, the Association charged them to always show the excellence in them in surpassing the targets set for them by Mr President.
The Association who extolled the pedigrees of the appointed members in their various fields, implored them to live up to the expectations of the slogan of the institutions “better by far” in all ramifications.
The Alumni then prayed for their successful tenure and tasked them not to hesitate to reach out to them whenever their services are needed in any capacity towards national development.
UNILORIN Alumni Commences Tinubu on Appointment of Nandap, Omotowa, Aribisala
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